Best iPad Mini Alternatives in 2023!

The iPad Mini 6 is now available for users around the world. With its staggering and refreshing design, it always flaunts better than any tablet. Given the powerful specs of all iPad Mini models to date, the 6th version is the best so far. That said, if you’re a fan of Apple devices and want to get a powerhouse as good as the iPad Mini 6, here are some of the best iPad Mini alternatives you must watch out for!

How many years should an iPad mini last?

Is iPad mini still worth buying?

What are the Best iPad Mini Alternatives?

Here are the 10 best iPad mini alternatives of all time!

1. Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 (Perfect alternative)

If you want to carry out multi-tasking at a blazing fast speed, want to be productive, stream all day, or play games all day, Samsung Galaxy Tab 8 is a perfect alternative to the iPad Mini 6th Generation! It comes with an S Pen which is also a perfect alternative to Apple Pencil. The S Pen is faster and more responsive than ever before! It makes you feel like a real pen while using it on the tablet.

With an 11-inch LCD screen, it gives you ample space on the screen to carry out your work. The tablet is available in 256 GB and 128 GB variants. It’s also available in graphite, pink gold, and silver colors!

[joomdev-wpc-pros-cons disable_title=”yes” wpc_style=”wppc-view3″ title_tag=”H4″ title=”GeniusGeeks Verdict” pros_title=”Pros” cons_title=”Cons” button_text=”Buy now” disable_button=”yes” button_link=”https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09NQMJ5XG?tag=geniusgeeks09-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1″ button_link_target=”_BLANK” button_rel_attr=”dofollow” verdict_text=”Overall, it gives you a PC-like experience once you get comfortable with it and can be easily used as an alternative to iPad Mini (any generation).”][joomdev-wpc-pros]

• Bright and vivid display
• Included S Pen
• Long lasting battery life
• Excellen cameras for a tablet
• Solid performance

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• Performance pales in comparison to iPad Air

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2. Microsoft Surface Project T-2 (2-in-1 tablet + laptop, expensive)

Welcome to the world of the most expensive tablet (in terms of iPad Mini alternative)! With a high price tag comes the best features tablet that can be used as a laptop too if needed.

It comes with Windows 10 pre-installed but it can be upgraded to Windows 11 after the purchase. With this, you won’t need to buy a Windows 11 laptop separately because it can be used as a tablet and as a laptop.

 

3. Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 (Runner Up)

The tab specifications are very much similar to S8 tab as discussed above. The only difference seems to be the processor (Octa Core). Multiple variants are available in Tab S7 like 128 GB, 256 GB, and 512 GB.

It also comes with a variant that has a keyboard attached. This can be used as a mini laptop too if needed. It’s available in black, bronze, mystic navy, and silver colors.

4. Microsoft Surface 3 (10.8-inches)

A stunning foldable tablet comes with an FHD 10.8-inches full HD screen along with a resolution of 1920 X 1280. It’s the most preferred choice of Windows 10 users who’re looking for a Windows-based tablet cum laptop.

Intel Quad-Core processor with 4 GB RAM and 64 GB SSD boasts its performance when used to the fullest. Be it running professional software like Auto CAD, Photoshop, or playing heavy games, this tablet can handle it all just like the iPad Mini does with ease!

So if you’re looking for an option that’s half the price of the iPad Mini 6th generation, this Microsoft Surface 3 tablet should be your go-to option.

5. Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0 (affordable & best)

If you’re looking for a tablet with a long-lasting battery and optimal performance, Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.0 must be your 1st preference. It’s relatively cheaper as compared to its counterparts that come with 64 GB of built-in memory.

Of course, you can expand it up to 512 GB if and when needed. The 8-inch screen should be enough as it is relatively equal to the iPad Mini screen size.

The dual speakers of the tablet deliver surround sound helping you listen to your favorite music, thrilling games, and watch your favorite videos with clear sound. It’s a lightweight tablet and it’s easy to use given that it comes with an Android operating system.

6. Fire HD 10 Tablet (Cheapest of all)

If you’re running tight on budget and need a basic tablet for your kids or for yourself to carry out regular tasks, the Fire HD 10 tablet is the cheapest alternative to iPad Mini available!

With 3 GB RAM, it’s possible to watch all your favorite shows and movies but if you’re planning to buy it for heavy gaming, it might not be able to stand up to your expectations. In such a case, prefer the above-given alternatives.

7. Lenovo Tab M10 Plus

Here’s yet another tablet with an Octa-core processor but with 4 GB RAM and 128 GB space. Given the operating system is Android 9.0, you can always upgrade it to the newer version after the purchase.

Features like parental control, dedicated content for kids, and eye protection make it one of the best iPad Mini alternatives for kids. If you feel you need lesser space on your tablet, the 64 GB version of the tablet is available too.

8. Dragon Touch K10 Tablet

Dragon Touch’s K10 tablet is a basic one considering the features of the other tablets discussed in this article. That said, it is available at a decent price and is trusted by more than 13,000 customers on Amazon.

The screen size is 10.1-inches and it comes with 32 GB of built-in storage. If you feel the storage capacity is less, you can use a micro SD card with up to 128 GB.

9. Zonko 10-inch Tablet

Love the old retro-type tablets that have minimal features but give you the best performance? Zonko is one such tablet you’ve been waiting for. It supports 3G phone calls and 2.4G Wi-Fi which is decent for regular (minimal) use.

The tablet comes with Android 9.0 installed, providing optimal performance. It is equipped with a 6,000 mAh battery which is more than enough to last for a day or two depending on your usage! It’s available in black and silver colors.

10. Fire HD 10 Kids Edition Tablet (Just for kids)

If you’re getting an iPad Mini 6 for your kid just for entertainment purposes or educational purposes, think twice as you’ve so many better options. One of them is Fire HD 10 Kids Edition tablet.

Don’t get confused with the images, it’s not a toy but it’s a tablet that has Amazon Kids+ installed in it by default and comes with a 1-year subscription. Later on, it renews at $2.99/month if you want to.

The parental control lets you filter the required content and set the time limits whenever necessary so that your kid doesn’t get addicted to it. It also comes with Audible books which are suitable for kids above 6 or 7 years of age if they love to listen to stories in their free time.

These are the top-rated alternatives to iPad Mini.

Which is Your Favorite Alternative to iPad Mini?

The best iPad Mini alternative for us would be Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 on any given day. Its features and multi-tasking capabilities resemble the iPad Mini most of the time. And moreover, it comes with an S Pen which never lets you miss the Apple Pen on your tablet!

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Note: The below-given iPad mini alternatives were reviewed back in 2013, so they can be ignored looking at the newest alternatives listed above.

Apple has finally decided to embrace a small form factor with the new iPad mini tablet. Unlike the past record, where Steve Jobs and others consider small form factors as rejectamenta and dropped the whole idea of adopting it, this time around Apple has taken a u-turn. The success of Samsung and Nexus has forced, rather envied, Apple to follow the same path.

The result is an iPad mini. However, Apple has emphasized more on cosmetics and other aspects than the hardware beneath. The iPad mini is definitely not the best 7-inch (7.9 inches to be exact) tablet out there. Let’s take a look at iPad mini alternatives that are already available on the market readily. Some of the alternatives are either better or cheaper compared to Apple’s newest offering.

Let me reiterate again, that the comprehensive list of best iPad mini alternatives may not necessarily beat the iPad mini in terms of hardware or cosmetic since some of them (like Google Nexus 7) are available in the market for quite a long time. The preeminent idea behind iPad mini alternatives is to provide more options to the end-users so that they can pick up the right device for them.

 

 

Google Nexus 7

Apple made a mockery of the device in its keynote. That itself declares it as the topmost competitor of iPad mini. Apple considers it so huge that it decided to make fun of the an year old device. Let’s not delve into this debate, not yet. With a partnership of Asus, Google released Nexus 7, a 7-inch tablet on the market. The device is powered by Nvidia Tegra 3 Quad core processor.

The new Nexus 7 is upgradable to Android 4.2 which is the latest version of the Android OS. The Google Nexus 7 has 1280 x 800 pixels resolution with 216ppi, which is still better compared to iPad mini. Lack of rear camera is the only point where iPad mini beats Google Nexus 7. It comes in 8GB and 16GB variations, and is priced at $199.

However, 8GB version will retire and 16GB version will take place of it. The LTE version is available at $299, which is cheaper compared to Apple’s small tablet. For the people on the tight budget and who is fond of Android OS, should definitely look to Google Nexus 7 to give a powerful punch to the iPad mini.

The support from Google and abundant of apps and games available in the Google Play store is yet another reason to go for this device over any other device.

 

Acer ICONIA Tab A110

The open source Android OS interests many hardware manufacturers. Although, Acer is yet to earn a respectable position in the tablet market, they have released some of the noteworthy tablet. Acer ICONIA slightly disappoints with 1024 x 600 resolutions running on the top of Nvidia Tegra 2 quad core processor and 1GB of RAM.

It will run on Android 4.1 JB operating system. The downside of the device is its average display which is not even an HD display. It has microSD, microSDHC support with which you can expand your memory to 32GB. It was made available at the end of the last month at $229, which is a kind of a big deal, as iPad mini is exactly $100 more costly.

However, tech pundits do not see it as an iPad mini alternative, but the rival of Google Nexus 7.  Acer has also unveiled a slew of Windows 8 tablets that speaks about the long term future plan of theirs.

 

Barnes & Noble Nook HD and HD+

Barnes & Noble Nook HD as their name suggests is a HS tablet with 7-inch form factor. It is probably the best tablet with highest PPI (243 pixels per inch) and resolution of 1440 x 900 pixels. The other impressive part about it is that it offers 360 degree viewing angle which is a rarity.

However, it would be somewhat unfair to call it as a full-fledged iPad mini alternative, since it is more of a device to enjoy reading books and watching movies. It comes with 8GB and 16GB variants which could be expanded to 32Gb through a MicroSD card. It also comes with free Nook cloud service, which allows you to store files in the cloud for free.

The HD+ version comes with 9-inch display and has more pixels stuffed in. You can enjoy movies, books, magazines, videos and emails in full HD resolution on Nook HD+. The HD version starts from $199 and HD+ version starts at $269.

 

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2

The second prominent name in smartphone and tablet industry is Samsung. It has recently become the company to sell and ship maximum smartphone in this year. Well, with its unique offering like Galaxy Note 2 and many more Samsung has become a household name. It has become a synonym of affordable priced gadget equipped with most powerful hardware.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 is a 7-inch tablet that is empowered by 1GHz dual-core processor. It comes pre-loaded with Android 4.0 ICS out-of-the-box. It has an average 3MP shooter and VGA front-facing camera for video calling capability. An expandable microSD card slot will let you expand the memory to 32GB along with inbuilt 16GB memory.

 

Kindle Fire HD

Besides Samsung, the other fierce competitor of Apple is Amazon. With Kindle Fire HD 7-inch tablets, Amazon has created a niche of its own. There are literally thousands of books available in the Amazon kindle store (some of them are free and you can download them too). Kindle Fire HD comes with highly customized Android OS of its own.

This is why people love open source project where people can contribute and tweak the system they way they want. Apple’s iOS is a closed system, and there are little to no options available to tweak the system. Of course, there is a parallel community called Cydia community which wants to break all the evil clutches.

It comes with 7-inch IPS display with 1280 x 800 pixels resolution which delivers crisp clear pictures. The system is powered by 1.2 GHz dual core processor and 1GB of RAM. The other noticeable feature is that it comes with Dolby audio and dual-driver stereo speakers for immersive surround sound.

Not only you can enjoy great free books, but also movies, music, emails and social networking websites on Kindle Fire HD. There is a front facing camera to let you know make video calls through Skype. The 16GB versions start at merely $199. There is also a micro HDMI port to connect with other utilities.

Phablets

Consider them as a wild card entry. Gone are the days when people were saying that a smartphone with a stylus is the fashion of the past. With Samsung’s Galaxy Note series device, the whole definition of the stylus has changed. It will take entirely a different topic to cover top-notch phablets.

All of them are worth calling iPad mini alternatives. Unfortunately, many of them like LG Optimus Vu, Samsung Galaxy Note 1/2 are small compared to iPad mini.

 

These are the best alternatives of iPad mini. Let us know if you would like to vote your favorite device. We would be more than happy to include them in our list.

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Last update on 2024-11-14. We earn commissions when you buy the product through Amazon affiliate links on our website. Images from Amazon Product Advertising API.